How to Protect Your Wi-Fi Router From Hacking Using Simple Tricks

Short Bytes: The humble wireless router in your home, as you might not think, could be the biggest loophole in your personal cyber security measures. Read the article to know simple ways to protect your Wi-Fi router.

These are the times when anything and everything digital is prone to hack. From ATMs to connected cars, and from satellites to the so-called secured government offices, hackers are laughing all the way. So, the blatant use of the specification “unhackable”, which today, has become the USP for the products by almost all the brands, doesn’t come as a surprise.

Many people are now aware and take good measures for their online safety, but safeguarding the Wi-Fi router still lies low at the priority list of the most. The reasons may range from lack of knowledge to mere carelessness, but your home router’s security is as important as your front door’s because it is the foremost target of hackers trying to invade through your system.

Now, as you might be knowing How to Increase Your Wi-Fi speed by choosing correct Wi-Fi Channel, here are the simple ways to strengthen your Wi-Fi router’s security from hack attacks.

1. Enable WPA2 (WI-Fi Protected Access)

Ok, this is the first and foremost thing to do for everyone who has or plans to buy a router. It provides encryption to your system and its variant WPA-PSK can be found in home networks. Those who use old routers, they might be having WEP or Wired Equivalent Privacy security, and trust us, it is no better than zero security.

2. Create a Strong SSID Network Name

Do not use the router’s default network name like D-Link or Netgear. Hackers have specific tools like rainbow table to bust into your network just by knowing your default SSID name.

3. Use a Strong Password or Passphrase Maybe

Well, no talk on security can circumvent the importance of strong passwords. Do you know if you increase your password’s length to just one more character, the chances of the hacker cracking your code with probabilistic ways are reduced by hundreds. (I’m just being modest, it is way too high).

Also read: SNOOZ: A ‘Sound Conditioner’ For Perfect Sleep

4. Firewall of Your Router

Well, if you have it, then Use it. It is the router’s inbuilt protection system to make it somewhat obscure from the hacker’s view. Also, new routers come with ‘stealth mode’ firewalls.

5. Turn Off UPnP

The Universal Plug and Play protocol (UPnP) which is meant to establish easy connection with devices in the vicinity can make your router vulnerable and make it a potential target for the hackers (results could be DoS attacks as well).

Not all the routers are susceptible to UPnP exploitation, but why take the risk.

6. Use VPN

A personalized VPN service for your router is the way to go if you are willing to shed a few bucks for your important data. VPN works by giving your location anonymity on its server and even creates its own firewall to protect your network traffic.

Also, VPN is a better alternative than the router’s remote management feature which exposes its web-based interface on the Internet.

7. Enable Logging Feature

The logging feature in your router keeps an account of the log attempts  from all IP addresses and give you all the connection attempt details. This could help you monitor any ongoing suspicious activity.

8. Use Security Services

You can also use cloud-based security services like OpenDNS to screen the traffic through your router. You simply have to configure your network to the online service’s nameserver rather than those used by your ISP.

These web-based services help you to monitor as well as encrypt the traffic through your router.

Although, you can’t make your device hack proof, but with these simple techniques you could make your router safer than it was before.